Category Archives: Monthly Project

Whoa! Have you missed me?
I’ve missed you, but my focus has had to shift a little!
As of the end of August, Share Denver is entirely my baby.
To say “shit is crazy” is an understatement! But this labor of love is truly that – I am thrilled to be steering the ship and taking control of the vision of this amazing space that I love so much.

That being said…I miss you, Ninjas!
I miss the spirit and heart of Denver Craft Ninjas, but it’s always been my intention to start hosting Ninja events at Share Denver on a consistent basis and provide a place for us to see each other again and raise hell like we used to!

So, let’s do it! September is our month!

Join me for this super fun and simple last flowery hurrah before fall sets in! I’ll provide all the materials and you make giant paper flowers to your heart’s content!
What’s Included: All supplies!
What to Bring: BYOB, cool dance moves, good vibes!
September 7th from 1 PM -5 PM
Click here to register!

Let’s have some fun and make some fun, colorful flowers! I can’t wait to see you!

It’s Crafty Goods! Here’s some fun stuff I found to share with you this week!

-Are you familiar with Leonie Dawson? She is a self help author/artist/hippy who has also evolved into an entrepreneur + philanthropist with a half a million dollar company. In her blog this week, she shared a concept I needed to hear – “What you do in the world is needed”.

It’s something we all need to hear! So if you’re feeling uninspired or off track…this could be a good boost!

-Denver area peeps! Naomi is moving to Indonesia and she wants you to take some of her stash off her hands! Sale is Mar. 22 from 8am-3pm and Mar. 23 from 9am-2pm at 7995 E. Mississippi Ave., A18 Denver, CO 80247 Here’s her Flickr page for just a sample of the goods

-The Aurora Arts Festival’s theme this year is Recycle Upcycle! If you’re a crafter or artisan that uses recycled or upcycled materials, this is the party for you! Hit up their website for info! But do it fast! They have limited spaces for you darlings!

I’ve always loved the way that paper marbling looks!
It’s sort of psychedelic and mesmerizing – but tasteful too.
Aren’t all the best things a combination of those descriptors?!

I’m excited to be teaching this cool paper marbling workshop at Share Denver for our March project on March 23rd.
Here are the details:

I’ll bring the paint and the paper and you come ready to get your hands a little dirty!
All attendees will leave with gorgeous pieces they can use for personalized stationary, wrapping paper, place settings, or any other amazing thing your little heart desires! It’s BYOB! So bring your own beermosa or Irish coffee!

I knew when Shawn Bowman first approached me about collaborating for the release of her book that things were gonna get awesome. But I don’t think I knew just how awesome!

But get some great minds together, add a Banjo Billy Bus, and a beer tour around Denver…you can begin to imagine what a great event we put together!

I’m not gonna elaborate too much. I think the pictures tell the story (drinking, crafts, hell raising), but I do want to remind you that you should pick up Shawn’s books! Beer Crafts and Criminal Crafts are both totally fun and silly and filled to the brim with DIY chutzpah!

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And MAJOR thanks to Nick Nunns at TRVE Brewing, Pints Pub, Nikki Minette at River North Brewery, and Shawn Bowman. Each person and place contributed enormously to make our event what it was and we’re so darn appreciative! Drink at these establishments! Support local breweries!

We’ve planned an evening of crafty debauchery that surely will be the stuff of legends.
We’ll be doing the things we do best – drinking beer and crafting in a pub crawl around town! On the agenda, you ask? Fashioning up projects from Shawn’s crafty beercentric book! Bracelets, earrings and stunning tiaras from empty beer cans and boxes.
And while this sounds the height of shabby chic, fear not creative friends, we’ll be chillaxing in style aboard the Banjo Billy Tour Bus, departing from Trve and ending up at Three Kings, we’ll hit a few other of our favorite watering holes, stop in for some crafting and fit in a little yarn bombing in along the way. Could it be more epic? We think not.

Date is July 7th, 2013 from 5:15-7:15 PM. The cost for this event is $25! We’ll provide snacks, craft materials, and some surprises on the bus, but beer tasting at each of the stops is on you! Also, Shawn will have copies of her book to purchase! You know you need one.
Click here to grab your spot and join us for an evening of craft beer and craft fun!

Sometimes it just feels good to get your hands dirty. Seeing dirt under your nails and in the cracks of your hands shows that you’ve been up to something – for me, that’s crazy satisfying.

It’s often even better when you’re making something that will bloom and grow beyond the initial output. Seed bombs are just that kind of project.
Originating in Japan, seed bombs (or “earth dumplings”) were the idea of Masanobu Fukuoka. His philosophy of natural farming encouraged a kind of gardening technique where weeding, pesticides, fertilizers, and tilling are left by the wayside in favor of letting mother nature choose the seeds she wanted to sow.
In the 70’s, guerrilla gardening picked up where Fukuoka left off. Guerilla gardening groups, like the Green Guerrillas in New York City, used some new and old ways to spruce up vacant lots by building their own seed bombs.
I like to think that Denver Craft Ninjas aren’t a lot different from those Green Guerrillas – sometimes being subversive and making a difference is as small as a seed bomb.

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The group for this project was small and wonderful. We chatted and took turns getting our hands dirty mixing dirt, clay and seeds. We talked about our green/brown thumbs, our yards, our plans for our gardens.
We also made some garden markers…which actually took more time than the seed bombs. It gave everyone a chance to flex their creative muscles and whip up something cute for their garden space.

Seed bombs are crazy easy and I encourage you to try your hand at them. Actually, contact me if you need red clay…I’ve got a grip load of it to share! Seed bombs are to be shared. They are to be happily thrown into a vacant lot or that uncooperative corner of your yard. And when you least expect it, they’ll surprise you and bloom.

Thanks so much to 3 Kings Tavern for always indulging us. I swear, I walked in saying, “We’re using dirt and clay today” and they always shrug it off. I’m endlessly thankful for them.

Lots of things are happening at Ninja HQ and we’ll have news in the coming days about all kinds of exciting stuff.
Please stay tuned! We think you’ll like it!

May is the perfect month to do some guerrilla seed bombing! Maybe in your own yard…maybe in the abandoned lot in your neighborhood that’s screaming for some greenery and color!
And we’re here to help you transform your neighborhood into a lovely place for the summer!

Our project this month is to hand roll seed bombs and make some cute little garden markers!

We’ll provide the materials and you be ready to get your hands dirty!May 19th, 2013 – 1-5 PM at Three Kings Tavern$23 bucks covers materials (dirt, seeds), containers, gloves, etc. – you’ll walk away with enough seed bombs to go crazy AND with the know how to make them yourselves at home!
Grab your spot via the link here!

Please don’t forget – it’s always better when you bring a little extra dough for a cocktail or two and some snacks to share with your fellow Ninjas!